Carton clamping and guiding means in an automatic carton closing machine



may 14, 1%8 w. LOVELAND ET AL. 3382,@45

CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS IN AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINEFiled Dec. 20, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet w. LOVELAND ET Al. 3,382,645 CARTONCLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS IN AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINE May14, 1968 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1965 May 14, 19168 Filed Dec.20, 1965 W. LOVELAND ET Al- CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS IN ANAUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 14, 1968 w. LovELANb ET Al. 3,382,645

CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS IN AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINE9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 20, 1965 F/G. 4 A 223 fof F/G. 5

May 14, 1968 Filed Dec. 20, 1965 W. LOVELAND ET AL CARTON CLAMPING ANDGUIDING MEANS 1N AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINE 304Af E g 45%qlin ln 328 Energlzed Vent Energ ized 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 i 323j 3/3 X{3e-energized De-energzed 227 Stop Goe Retrocted d 225 H0. w25/LDe-energized Energzed LVenT Supply May14,1968 w. LOVELAND ET AL3,382,645

CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS IN AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINEFiled Deo. 20, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 sm w @S m Nimm @n m Nv May 14,1968 W. LOVELAND ET AL 3,382,645

CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS IN AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINE9 Sheets-Sheet Filed Deo. 20, 1965 May 14, 1968 W L OVELAND ET Al.3,382,645

CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS IN AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINEFiled Dec. 20, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 /RANDOM UNI FORM United StatesPatent O 3,382,645 CARTN CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEANS IN AN AUTOMATICCARTON CLQSING MACHINE Winton Loveland, Freeport, and Saul Warshavv, NewYork, N.Y., assignors to The Loveshaw Corporation, Farmingdale, N.Y., acorporation of New York Continuation-impart of application Ser. No.219,212, Aug. 24, 1962. This application Dec. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 514,943

20 Claims. (Cl. 53-75) This application is a continuation-in-part of ourapplication Ser. No. 219,212, filed Aug. 24, 1962, now Patent No.3,236,022, for Automatic Carton Closing Machine.

The present invention relates to an automatic carton closing machineand, more particularly, to mechanisms therein for clamping each of aseries of cartons fed therethrough successively in a temporarily stoppedposition at a flap folding station while flap folding operations areperformed thereon and then guiding them through to the discharge end ofthe machine.

One aspect of this invention is particularly concerned with the problemof folding down the top flaps of cartons of relatively shallow depths,such as of the order of three to four and one-half inches (3-41/2) inheight, in a machine that will efficiently perform such operations oncartons of random size which are higher than four and one-half inches(4l/2). Such small cartons which have heights in this range frequentlyhave rounded corners and are difllcult to square between and to beclamped securely by opposed clamping members translated transverselyrelative to each other for this purpose.

In a machine of the construction of our copending application Ser. No.219,212, tiled Aug. 24, 1962, such carton clamping means are in the formof transversely spaced, elongated, parallel members or rails mounted fordrive toward each other temporarily to clamp therebetween each cartonwhen stopped at a carton sensing and flap folding station and then torelease the closed carton for conveyor transport forward while theclamping rails serve as guides in such forward travel of the carton. Theopposed inside faces of these clamping rails serve as the carton sidescontacting means thereof and, in one form, are provided by upstandingedge flanges that flank opposite sides of the flap folding station andthere clamp an intervening carton temporarily stopped at this station.The conveyor means which picks up each carton at the flap foldingstation and transports it forward after a flap folding operation isperformed thereon preferably is of the chain conveyor type havingltransverse flight bars that travel above these rail inside flangesbeneath the elevating head at the flap folding station which carries themechanisms for folding the top flaps down to carton closing positions.When, as is proposed in that parent application, this flap folding headalso carries beyond the flap folding station top taping mechanism,interference with the latter by the transverse flight bars of the chainconveyor must be avoided.

For this purpose and in connection with the development of one phase ofthe present invention the conveyor flight bars had to be loweredrelative to the top edges of the opposed inside flanges of the clampingrails so that there was only about one-eighth of an inch (1s) clearanceand the height of these rail inside flanges required reduction to aboutone inch (1). The resulting narrow carton clamping faces of these railflanges increased the danger of crushing carton sides in the clampingaction, and in the case of the small cartons having heights in the threeto four and one-half inch (3-41/2") range effective clamping andproperly aligned orientation was found to CIK be unreliably attained dueto the prevalence of the rounded corners and resulting tendency for suchsmall cartons to be forced up or to jump over the opposed low rail sideflanges.

It was further found in the development of the present invention thatcartons of all sizes receivable by this closing machine, including thesmall ones of heights in the three to four and one-half inch (3"41/2)range, could be effectively centered in square orientation and securelyclamped if the opposed clamping faces of the clamping and guidingmembers or the opposed rails thereof were provided in a form to attainan effective elevation at the time of clamping action of a minimum ofabout one and one-half inches (l1/2). This led to the solution of thepresent invention.

These problems were solved 'by designing elevating and retractablecarton side engaging means supported on at least one of the pair ofopposed carton clamping and guiding members or rails at the inner sideof the latter to constitute the means of contacting a side of a cartonpausing at the flap folding station. In the event that one of thesemembers or rails is embodied with a fixed mount in a position to extendoutside of the interference zone, i.e., transversely beyond the path ofthe transverse flight bars, it may have an inner side clamping and guideface of the required minimum elevation in the form of a fixed face orflange structure. The opposed and cooperative clamping and guidingmember or rail is mounted for transverse drive and retraction relativeto this fixed one and is equipped with this carton side engaging meansof unique form characterizing the present invention. Preferably both ofthe clamping and guiding members or rails are mounted within theinterference zone and are thus provided on their inner clamping sideswith such carton side engaging means.

The present invention also provides means movably mounting each suchcarton side engaging means on the clamping and guiding member or railsupporting it for alternate elevation and retraction or motion away fromthe latter and the conveyor means toward the flap folding sub-assemblycarried by the elevating head, for appreciable lap against the opposedcarton side, and lowering such carton side engaging means toward themember or rail supporting it and the conveyor means to minimizeprojection thereof. This invention also provides means to effect suchretraction as the conveyor means picks up the pausing carton at thisstation and transports it forward. The retraction of the extendingcarton side engaging means thus permits the free passage of each loweredflight bar of the conveyor means.

In association with such novel carton side engaging means there is alsoprovided unique improvements in the mechanism for driving the opposedcarton clamping and guiding members or rails toward each other to cartonclamping positions and -to reduce the clamping pressure against thecarton sides sufficiently to permit eachl closed carton to .be carriedforward by the conveyor means with the opposed members or rails servingas effective guides. Such unique improvements simplifies the structureand mechanisms pnovided for this purpose in the identified parentapplication Ser. No. 219,212. 'Ilhe present invention also encompassesan improvement in the means for temporarily stopping each carton at theflap folding station yand then releasing it for forward transport by theconveyor means to beneath the top tape applying mechanism in the eventthat the machine is equipped wit-h such, this stopping means beingseparate from the conveyor means for separate operation thereof.

Another aspect of the 4present invention is concerned with a speed up ofthe rate of flap folding and carton closing operations effected bymechanisms of the machine to 'realize an appreciable increase in therate of product-ion performed by the machine. This is accomplished by sooperating the periodically stopped chain conveyor section of the machineas to cause it to coast up to abutment of one of its transverse flightbars against the back end of each carton temporarily clamped in astopped positio-n at the fiap folding station, so that when the cartonis released thereafter for further transport forward it will be pickedup almost instantaneously for `the `further transport.

In the event that any one of the group of cartons is delivered to theflap folding station ahead of Ithe next oncoming flight bar of the chainco-nveyor and, in connect-ion with this second aspect of the invention,the carton is stopped at this station by means separate from the chainconveyor there is no need to apply braking action to the chain conveyor.If in the temporary absence of such braking action the chain conveyorcarries forward such following yHight bar to abutment of the rear end ofthe carton stopped at the hap folding station the chain conveyor will bestopped by the pausing carton which is held by its separate stoppingmeans. In accomplishing this action the drive of the chain conveyor mustbe reduced in force with ultimate slippage in order to avoid crushingthe carton which, in accordance with the present invention, isaccomplished in a unique manner.

This new development in the carton stopping and chain conveyor drivealso taires into account in an effective manner the possibility that thenext succeeding carton may not be delivered past the entrance gate atthe time the chain conveyor advances its next oncoming flight bar towardsuch initially critical position of this next entering carton. In suchcase braking power is applied to the chain conveyor to hold it stoppedu-ntil this succeeding carton is delivered forward past such initiallycritical position toward or to the ap folding station and the separatecarton stopping means thereat.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter, and the invention accordingly comprises the featuresof construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts,which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view to reduced scale, with parts omittedfor clarity, of 1a type of automatic carton closing machine whichembodies forms of carton clamping and guiding means and also conveyormechanism and carton stopping means of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view to larger scale, with parts broken away, ofthe entrance end of the bed unit of the machine shown in FIG. 1, andillustrating features of the presen-t carton clamping and guiding meansand of the conveyor and stopping means:

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, with parts in section, of theremaining discharge end of the bed of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a section of one of the carton clamping andguiding members or rails shown in FIG. 2, with parts broken away, onwhich lis mounted a carton side engaging means, that, by way of exampleand as is illustrated therein, may comprise a movable shoe capable ofbeing alternatively elevated and retracted;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational View of the structure shown in FIG. 4, withone of the shoe operating transverse flight lbars of the chain conveyorbeing indicated in broken lines to illustrate its service in retractingthe carton side engaging shoe;

FIG. 6 -is a sectional view taken substantially on linc 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view tolarger scale of carton stop gate means shownin FIG. 2, with `parts broken away;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of pneumatic equipment primarily designedto operate or transversely drive toward each other and alternatively toretract the carton clamping and guiding members or rails, as well assecondarily pneumatic means associated therewith that may serveeffectively to elevate and retract the carton stop gate at the flapfolding station; the parts of such pneumatic system being shown in theirrelative pos-itions to effect driving of the clamping and guiding railsin toward each other to opposite sides of a carton stopped at the flapfolding station;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 9, illustrating parts ofthe pneumatic system in their relative positions as a carton is clampedat the tiap folding station between the opposed clamping and guidingmembers or rails;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIGS. 9 and l0, showing partsof the pneumatic system in relative positions to effect retraction ofthe carton clamping and guiding rails so as to spread them apartapprcciably to initial positions for receiving therebetween a nextsucceeding carton as transported forward to the fiap folding station;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 9, but illustratinganother type of mechanism for operating the carton stoppiig gate at theflap folding station;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 1G of the pneumatic equipment shown inFIG. l2 Linder the FIG. l) conditions;

FIG. 14 is a partially diagrammatic side elevational view, with partsbroken away and omitted for clarity, of the machine shown in FIG. 1,with the near side thereof removed for observation of conveyor operatedcontrol mechanism located on the -far side thereof, and showing therelationship of conveyor parts, carton entrance supply and feed means,carton stop means at the ap folding station and photocell controls withrespect to a carton iniially being fed thereto;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the advance position ofparts of suc'h mechanisms as the carton is delivered to the flap foldingstation and conveyor means advanced to a posi'ion assuring substantialyinstantaneous pick up thereby of a carton at the flap folding stationafter a 'liap folding operation has been performed at this station;

FIG. 16 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuitry of themachine depicted in FIGS. l to 3 incl. as well as solenoid valvesillustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13 incl.;

FIG. 17 is a detail view, with parts in section and others schematic, ofsolenoid operated latch mcchani'm which may be associated with the'front flap folding arm structure t0 hold this arm in its up, horizontalpostiion for a time so as, during that period, to maintain therespective manipulated open and closed conditions of a gang of switchesoperated by the movement of this iiap folding arm, and until a closedcarton has advanced through the machine to a certain point; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic wiring diagram of a portion of electricalcircuitry of. another eembodiment of the -machine shown in FIGS. 1 to 3incl. which employs variations of the electrical equipment proposed inFIG. 16 with respect to certain features and operational characteristicsthereof.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals identify similar partsthroughout, it will be seen, and particularly from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,that the embodiment of the automatic carton closing machine illustratedby way of example therein may be similar to that of our aboveidentil'iedpatent application Ser. No. 2l9,2l2 and comprise a bed unit I and anelevating head unit 2 supported on the former by upwardly-extez1dingstandards or columnar structure 3. Conventially the parts of the machineare made of suitable meals. The bed unit 1 has a rectangular framestructure supported upon suitable legs 4. The frame structure mayinclude opposed sidewalls '5 and 6, a rea'ive'y low end wail 7 at theentrance end, and another end wall 8 at the discharge end.

The bed unit 1 is equipped with lateral conveyor means suitablysupported by the frame sidewalls 5 and 6, and

this conveyor means has an entrance end in the vicinity of end wall '7and a discharge end in the vicinity of end end wall 8. This conveyormeans defines a longitudinal path of forward carton travel along whichit successively transports a plurality of open-top cartons which may 'beof random sizes including those of relatively small heights, such as inthe range of about three inches to four and one-half inches (3"-41/2).Such cartons are of conventional form being constructed, if desired,from corrugated board and rectangular in cross section with the edges ofthe top thereof provided with upwardly-extending front and back flapsrespectively on the leading and trailing top edges and opposedupwardly-extending side flaps on the side top edges, all to be foldeddown to closed lateral lapping positions for securement in cartonclosing positions. The machine of the present invention is designedautomatically to close successively the tops of such cartons in t'hismanner after they have been loaded with the products to 'be marketed orshipped therein. Accordingly', any suitable feeding means, such as aroller conveyor 9, illustrated in FIG. l, will be mounted adjacent theentrance end of the bed unit 1, i.e., adjacent the end wall 7,successively to feed a supply of the loaded cartons over the top edge ofthe latter to the conveyor means. The frame structure of the 'bed unit 1may include lateral sheet metal ledges 10 and 11 extending inwardly fromthe top edges of the sidewalls 5 and 6 for support of certain controldevices as will appear hereinafter, and strengthening cross framingmembers may be embodied.

At the entrance end of the bed un't 1, in the vicinity of end wall 7, ismounted a liftable gate 12 shown in FIGS. l and 2. A cross shaft 13,having its ends supported by sidewalls v5 and 6 of the frame structure,pivotally supports a pair of swinging arms 14 which carry on their backends a gate bar 15. The gate bar 15 may be in the form of a length ofangle stock having an upwardly--extending, carton-barring flange 16. Thegate bar 15 preferably supports thereon a rotatable roll '17 over whichthe bottom of a loaded carton may advance readily after a leadingportion advances thereover. It will be understood that when the gatearms 14 are swung upwardly, or in a clockwise direction as viewed inFIG. l, the gate flange 16 will swing up above the plane defined by thetops of the series of feed rollers 9 to bar the leading end of a carton'bottom supplied across the latter until this gate flange is loweredbelow this feed plane.

The conveyor means includes a continuously driven, initial endlesssection 27 indicated in FIG. 1 and seen in FIG. 2. For this purpose, anidling roller 28 may be rotatably supported by a pair of arms 29pivotally mounted on the cross shaft 13, or, if desired, on a fixedposition axis by suitable supporting means mounted to the machine frame.A driving shaft 3C- is rotatably supported by bearing units 31 betweenthe frame sidewalls 5 and 6, and carr'es fixed thereto a driving roller32. The initial conveyor section 27 preferably is in the form of anendless belt lapped about the rollers 23 and 32. As will be best seenfrom FIG. l, a bottom run of the conveyor belt 27 is lapped back andforth about idling rolls 33 and 34 with the latter supported by tensionadjusting devices 35. The shaft 3f) carries a sprocket 36 fixed theretoto be driven by a drive chain indicated by dot-dot-dot-dash lines 37 inFIGS. 2 and 3A The endless driving chain 37 has a run lapped against aguiding idler 38 and is lapped about a driving sprocket 39. Drivingsprocket 39 is one of a group of three thereof fixed together with thesecond 4t) constituting means for driving tape feeding mechanism and thethird 41 constituting the driving sprocket about which is lapped adriving chain indicated by dot-dot-dash lines at 42 in FIG. 3. The groupof Sprockets 39, 4t) and 41 are rotatably supported by a cross shaft 43and the tape feed sprocket drives tape feeding mechanism cornprisingsprockets 44 and 45 about which an endless chain is lapped and asprocket 46 against which the drive chain 412 is lapped in turn to drivea cross shaft 47 of tape feed mechanism. The cndless chain 42 is lappedabout a driving sprocket 48 fixed to a driving stub shaft 49 of areduction gear unit 50 operated by a main driving electric motor 51. Thedriving stub shaft 49 also carries fixed thereto another drivingsprocket 52 about which is lapped an endless driving chain indicated bydot-dash lines at 53 in FiG. 3, in turn lapped about a driven sprocket54 rotatably supported by a cross shaft 55 equipped with suitable brakeand clutch devices for` drive of a second conveyor section as isexplained hereinafter.

Cross shaft 13 also carries, rotatably supported thereon, a pair of nearand far idler sprockets 56 and 156, as will be seen in FIG. 2, whilecross shaft 55 is rotatably supported by bearing units 57 and 157carried by frame sidewalls S and 6. As will be seen in FlG. 3, driveshaft 5S carries fixed thereto a pair of near and far sprockets 53 and158 respectively aligned with sprockets 56 and 156. The second endlessconveyor section preferably is in the form of a pair of endless chains,indicated by dot-dash lizies 59 and 159 in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectivelylapped about sprockets 56 and 58, and 156 and 15S, for drive bysprockets 5S and 158. As will be best understood from FIG. 1, the lowerrun of each of the endless chains 59 and 159 is lapped beneath one of apair of idiers 60 and 16() rotatably supported by a cross shaft 61mounted between frarne sidewalls 5 and 6, and beneath another of a pairof idlers 62 and 162 rotatably supported by another cross shaft 63. Thesecond endless conveyor section also includes a series of cartontransporting flight bars 64 which, as is indicated in FIG. 1, may be twoin number spaced longitudinally appreciably apart. The pair of conveyorchains 59 and 159 also may carry a plurality of reversed flight barswhich may be similar to the flight bars 54. There may be a pair of thesereversed fright bars, and each will constitute a carton stop having thefunction of holding a carton at a sensing and flap folding station whenthe second conveyor section pauses or is held in stop position. However,the illustrated embodiment of the machine preferably employs movablegate means at the exit end of this station to serve as such carton stop,and this mechanism is fully described hereinafter. The endless conveyorchain 59 on the near side, as viewed in FIG. l, also is equipped with apair of tripping lugs 66-1 and 66-2 to be carried along therewith foroperating certain limit conveyor means, and in order to attain certainproduction speedup of similar but longer tripping lugs 266-1 and 266-2preferably are mounted on the companion conveyor chain 159 for a similarpurpose as is demonstrated in FIGS. 14 and 15.

It will thus be seen that the initial conveyor section comprisingendless belt 27 has an entrance end near the vicinity of the selectorgate 12 and a discharge end at a point appreciably in advance thereofwhich is at a carton sensing and ap folding station. From the dischargeend of the initial conveyor section or belt 27 suitable fixedcarton-supporting structure extends forward, and this may be in the formof a pair of fixed fiat plates or rails 270 suitably supported betweenthe frame sidewalls 5 and 6, such as by fixed cross rod beneath theirfront ends (see FIG. 2) and other similar support means. Carton supportplates or rails 270 terminate in the vicinity of the discharge end wall8. as will be seen from FIG. 3. The second conveyor section comprisingconveyor chains 59 and 159 and their flights 64 extend forward at leastfrom the discharge end of the belt conveyor 27 to the discharge end ofthe bed unit 1. As will be apparent from FIG. 2, preferably the entranceend of the chain conveyor apprcciably laps the discharge end of the beltconveyor and, in fact, has its chain-supporting front sprockets 56 and156 rotatably supported on the same cross shaft 13 which pivotallycarries the arms 29 rotatably supporting roller 28 about which theentrance cnd of the conveyor belt 27 is lapped, Thus, any carton whichis delivered to the sensing and flap folding station by the conveyorbelt 27 will be picked up there by an oncoming flight 64 of the chainconveyor to be slid forward over the rails 270 to the discharge end ofthe bed unit 1.

The near end of driven cross shaft 55 carries a housed magnetic brake67-1 and the far end thereof carries a housed magnetic clutch 67-2, bothof which are indicated in FIG. 3, and these units may be of conventionalconstruction. For example, the frame sidewall may fixedly supportthrough fixed housing 68 of the brake unit 67-1 xed field coils and corestructure thereof opposed to an axially slidable armature therein. Hub69 of drive sprocket 58 is keyed to the drive shaft 55 and the sprocketin turn carries circumferentially-spaced, axially-extending pins on'which is slidably mounted for axial motion the armature, which may bein the form of a paramagnetic disc (hidden in housing 68). The xed corestructure is annular and has a friction face equipped with suitablebrake lining material opposed to a face of the slidable armature plate,so that when the brake field coil is energized the armature plate isdrawn axially against the brake lining of the fixed magnetic corestructure to clamp it thereto and prevent the driven cross shaft 55 fromrotating. The clutch unit 6'7-2 is of somewhat similar structure withthe field coil thereof also iixedly supported by housing 168therewithin, which in turn is xedly mounted to the frame sidewall 6. Theannular core structure is carried by a hub keyed to the driven shaft 55.While the hub 169 of sprocket 158 is also keyed to the driven shaft S5,the drive sprocket 54 has its hub freely supported on this shaft forrelative rotation and axial motion toward the keyed core structure, andsprocket 54 may be constructed of paramagnetic material to serve as theannular armature. Thus, when the field coil of the clutch unit 67-2 isenergized, the drive sprocket 54 will be slid axially outward a shortdistance to have its outer face engage a friction facing of suitablematerial carried by the annular magnetic core structure keyed to theshaft, to connect the shaft and the conveyor chain driving sprockets 58and 158 of are not necessary to an understanding of their functions andoperations, and they are alternately operated or energized for alternateperiodic drive and pause of the chain conveyor section.

As will be understood from FIGS. l and 3, the support structure 3includes an opposed pair of upwardly extending standards or columns and175 which constitute supports for the elevating head unit 2, and thesecolumns are lixedly mounted to the frame sidewalls 5 and 6 of the bedunit 1 in any suitable manner. The columns 75 and 175 preferably are ofchannel construction so as to provide guiding channels 76 and 176 forslides or carriage means therein that serve to carry a flap foldingsubassembly, and to house elevating mechanism. Opposite ends of thecross shaft 63 extend into the channels 76 and 176 and are fixedlymounted to these columns by any suitable means, such as stud bolts 77.Within the channels 76 and 176, fixed cross shaft 63 rotatably supportssprockets 78 and 178, forming a part of head elevating mechanism.

As will be understood from FIGS. 2 and 3, the bed unit 1 is equippedwith suitable carton clamping and carton travel guiding means,preferably extending from the vicinity of the entrance end to a distanceshort of the discharge end of the bed unit 1, but entirely through thecarton sensing and liap folding station in the vicinity of the dischargeend of the initial conveyor section or belt 27. This carton clamping andguiding structure may be in the form of a pair of rails 8() and 180,which may be of channel formation, as shown, to provide on the innersides thereof opposed upstanding fianges 31 and 181. As will beunderstood from FIGS. 2 and 3, the clamping and guiding rails 88 and 188are suitably supported by a pair of transverse rods 82 and 83 mounted tothe frame sidewalls 5 and 6. Each of the rods S2 and 83 supports a pairof slides 84 and 184 carrying bracket arms 85 and 135 to each of whichis mounted one of the rails 80 and 188. Thus, the guiding and clampingrails and 180 are slidably supported on transverse rods 82 and 83 fortransverse movement inward and outward relative to the center of thepath of carton travel defined by the longitudinally-extending conveyormeans. In their outward positions, depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rails80 and 189 are at their initial carton-receptive positions to permit acarton fed over depressed gate 12 to the entrance end of the initialconveyor section belt 27 to advance therebetween. The front end of eachof the rails 80 and 180 preferably is equipped with a freely rotatingcarton guide roller 86 to facilitiate entrance of a carton therebetween.

The clamping and guiding rails 80 and 189 are slid transversely back andforth on the guide rods 82 and 83 by suitable driving mechanism. Suchrail driving mechanism may be in the form of a fluid pressure motor,such as a pneumatic cylinder 87 of the double-action type having itspiston head 8S equipped with a through piston rod 89, The rail drivingmechanism includes lateral sprockets 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95'.Sprockets 90 and 92 are supported on frame sidewall 5 by a bracket 96while sprockets 93 and 95 are supported by a similar, reverselyshapedbracket 196. Sprocket 91 is supported on sidewall 6 by a bracket 97 anda similar bracket 98 is employed to support sprocket 94 on the lattersidewall, as will be understood from FIG. 2. Lengths of link chain arelapped about the sprockets 9i) t0 95 incl. and anchored to opposite endsof the piston rod 89, with suitable connections to the slides 84 and 184to drive the rails 80 and 180 transversely inward and outward. Forexample, a length 99 of such link chain is anchored to the right end ofpiston rod 89 as viewed in FIG. 2 and lapped about sprocket 98 to extendtransversely to an anchor bolt 100 carried by slide 184 on slide rod 83.Slide 184 also carries another chain anchor bolt 200 to which one end ofanother chain length 199 is anchored, with the latter lapped aboutsprocket 91 to extend transversely back to another anchor bolt 308carried by slide 8e on slide rod 83. The latter slide 84 also carries anadditional anchor bolt 400 to which a third length 299 of the chain isconnected, with the latter lapped about sprocket 92 to extendlongitudinally back for lap about sprocket 93 and then transversely to afifth anchor bolt S carried in like manner by slide 184 on vslide rod82. This latter slide 184 also carries another anchor bolt 680 to whicha fourth length of chain 399 is anchored and then lapped about sprocket94- to extend transversely back to an additional anchor bolt 789 carriedby slide 84 on slide rod 82, with a further anchor bolt 898 on thelatter slide having connected thereto a fifth length of chain 499 lappedabout sprocket 95 to extend longitudinally forward to connection withthe left hand end of the piston rod 89. Thus, when the piston rod 89 ofthe pneumatic cylinder 87 is slid longitudinally to the right, as viewedin FIG. 2, the clamping and guiding rails Si? and 186i are driventransversely outward to their initial carton-receptive positions showntherein, and when the piston rod is then reciprocated in the oppositedirection to the left in FlG. 2 these rails are driven transverselyinward toward each other for approach of their inside flanges 81 and 181to opposite sides of a carton delivered therebetween.

The 'front end of guiding and clamping rail 1.8@ carries opposite thebelt conveyor section 27, in the area. of the carton sensing and flapfolding station an adjustable control or sensing device 115, as will beseen in FIG. 2. For the purpose of supporting the adjustable control 115upon the guiding and clamping rail |180, the latter carries a pair ofopposed brackets 125 (see FIG. 2). The brackets 125 support therebetweena pair of longitudinally-extending guide rods 126 and 226 upon which acarriage 127 is slidably mounted. Carriage 127 supports a control device128, which may be in the form of an electrical circuit switch biased toone of its open and closed positions and manipulated to the otherthereof by an actuating arm 129. The switch actuating arm i129 iselongated and extends longitudinally forward while having itsmid-section shaped to be disposed substantially parallel to the inwardface of flange 181 of rail 180 when retracted or swung back by contactwith carton side structure. Thus, when the rails 86 and 180 are driveninward toward each other with a carton disposed therebetween oppositethe control 115, the back side of the carton which is opposed to theswitch operating arm 2129 will first be contacted thereby. Then, as therails 80 and 180 are brought to clamping positions against the oppositesides of the carton, this switch operating arm 129 will be retracted orpushed back to operate the switch 128. The control device comprisingswitch 128 and its actuating arm 129 are automat-ically adjustable alongthe path of carton forward travel as dictated by the width of thecarton. For example, a narrow carton causes the clamping rails 80 and180 to be driven inward toward each other an appreciable distance andthe control device 128 will be advanced forward an appreciable distance.With wider cartons, where inward travel of the clamping rails 80 and180' is relatively small, the control device 12S will be advancedforward only a short distance. This automatic adjustment of the positionof the control device 128 is attained by substantially rigid tie meanspivotally connected to the fixed structure of the bed frame and to thecontrol carriage 127. For example, elongated rigid arm or strap 139 ispivotally mounted at 131 to bed frame wall 6, with its other endpivotally connected at 133 to the carriage y127, as will be understoodfrom FIG. 2. Thus, as rail 80 is driven transversely inward toward thecenter of the longitudinal path of carton forward travel, the tie 130 isswung counterclockwise to pull the control carriage 127 forward alongthe guide rods 126 and 226. This forward adjustment of the position ofthe control device 115 is proportionate to the width of the carton atthe carton sensing and iiap folding station.

The machine bed unit 1 also is provided with additional controlequipment. As will be seen from FIG. 1, the frame of the bed unit 1supports a limit control 135, which may be in the form of electricalcircuit switching means having a plurality of switches mechanicallylinked together for simultaneous operation. The limit switch 135 isprovided with an actuating trigger 136 designed to be swung up and downand biased to its downward position with a drag roller 137 carried byits lower end. Limit switch 135 preferably is supported upon ledge 10beyond the head-supporting upright column 75, such as in the vicinity ofthe location X|1 indicated in FIG. 3, so that the roller 137 on theactuating trigger 136 will be dragged over the next oncoming travelinglug 661 or 66-2 carried by conveyor chain 59. When the upper run ofconveyor chain 59 in its forward travel causes lug 66-1 to engage thetrigger 136, the latter will be swung up to actuate Ithe switches in thelimit switch unit 135, and the circuit switches thereof will be held totheir respective manipulated positions until this run of the conveyorchain advances suiiiciently to free the trigger and thus permit thelimit switches to be returned to their initial positions. A similarlimit switch 235 preferably is mounted at location X-Z on frame ledge111 (FIG. 3) to be tripped by lugs 266-1 and 266-2 carried by conveyorchain 159 (see FIGS. 2, 14 and l5).

Additional sensing devices are provided on the machine bed unit 1, whichmay be in the form of optical carton sensing devices. For example, aswill be seen from FIGS. l and 2, the ledge [10 may support at 138, inthe vicinity of the selector gate 12 and slightly in advance thereof aphotocell responsive to the light beam from a light source 139 supportedon the opposite side by ledge 11. At the sensing and iiap foldingstation Y, ledge 10 may support in similar fashion, substantially at thepoint .140, a second photocell arranged opposite to a second lightsource for response to the beam thereof, with the latter being locatedsubstantially at the point 141. The functions of the photoeells at 138and 140 will be explained in connection with the wiring diagram of FIG.16 and the operation of the machine detailed hereinafter.

In FIG. l is shown in dot-dash lines an open-top carton -134 ofrelatively shallow depth or short height located opposite the photocelloptical sensing device 140 at the sensing and flap folding station Y,beneath a flap folding and carton closing head 142 supported forelevating travel upon the upright columns 75 and 175. Head 142 includesa lateral frame member or beam 143 which supports a iiap foldingsub-assembly which may include a depending post 144. The bottom end ofdepending post i144 pivotally carries at 145 a front flap folding armstructure 146, which, due to gravity biasing, normally depends in thetop elevated position of the head 142 shown in FIG. 1 obliquely down andforward to the full line position shown in FIG. l. The front ap foldingarm structure 146 carries a linger 147 which engages a trigger 148 ofanother limit control, which may be an electrical circuit switch device149 supported on the post 144. In the full line position of the frontflap folding arm structure 146 shown in FIG. 1 -its finger i147 holdsthe switch trigger 148 forward to a tripped position to hold the switchin one of its open and closed positions. When the front ap folding armstructure 146 is swung upward to a lateral position, indicated by brokenlines in FIG. 1, the trigger 148 of switch 149 is`released to permit theswitch to be actuated to the other of its two positions. The bottom ofthe depending post 144 has anchored thereto, such as by welding, one endof a folded iiap hold-down device in the form of a resilient presserstrip 150, which extends forward with its free end unsupported, tocooperate with the front liap folding arm structure i146. As will beseen from FIG. 1, the liap hold-down strip 15) may have a continuatingportion at its anchored back end, which is turned up obliquely and theninward to additional anchorage to the depending post 144, so as toprovide a wedgeshaped stop 250 for a back iiap folding arm or kickerhereinafter described. v

The elevating liap folding head 142 also may have a forwardly extendinglateral frame member A which supports suitable flap securing mechanism,which may be tape applying means of the type disclosed in outcopendingpatent application for U.S. Letters P-atent Ser. No. 139,676, filedSept. 21, 1961, now Patent No. 3,236,716, including pairs of wipe downarms B and C, to which are supplied from a suitable tape supply reel Dlengths of gummed tape to be adhesively affixed over overlapping liapsof a carton top after the iiaps have been folded down in stacked oroverlapping relation. Similar tape applying devices are carried by thebed unit 1, including another adhesive tape supply reel E (see FIG. 1),tape feed and drive sprockets 40, 44 and 45, tape mechanism cross shaft47 and sprocket 46 supported thereby, tape feed actuators F (supportedon rail 180, see FIG. 3) and associated structure.

The lateral frame member or beam 143 of head 142 pivotally supports at151 a carton back flap folding arm or kicker 161 as part of the tiapholding sub-assembly, as will be seen from FIG. l. The back flap foldingarm or kicker 161 is normally held in an extended or substantiallylateral position when the ilap folding head 142 is elevated to themaximum height of its vertical travel, as is shown in FIG. 1. For thispurpose the lateral beam 143 carries a kicker actuating means,preferably in the assauts form of a pneumatic cylinder 163, as is shownin PEG. 1. This pneumatic cylinder 163 is of the double-action type withpressurized fluid being alternately fed to opposite ends on oppositesides of its piston head by suitable conduit means. Piston rod 167mounted to the piston head of the pneumatic cylinder 163 is connected bya knuckle to a lever arm fixed to the pivoted kicker 161. Thus, whenpressurized air is supplied to the back end of pneumatic cylinder 163the rear flap kicker 161 is swung backward and upwardly to itssubstantially lateral cocked position, shown in full lines in FIG. l,with the head space of the cylinder in front of its piston head beingvented. It will be seen from FlG. l that the bottom side of the rear apkicker 161 is provided with a depending tapered nose 172 having anoblique rear face 173-1 which, when the kicker is swung down to itsdepending position indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. l, is oriented tosubstantial parallelism with the oblique stop 25). The cocked kicker 161is swung down to this position to engage or strike the rear face of anupstanding back flap on the trailing end of the open top of a carton andkick it forward to folded lateral position by reversing the pneumaticconnections to cylinder 163 to retract the piston rod 167. When thekicker 161 is swung down the oblique rear face 173-2 of its tapered nose172 provides a at lateral bottom surface substantially in the horizontalplane of the bottom surface 1416-1 of front ap folding arm structure 146when swung up, as are indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. l. Thesealigned bottorn surfaces of the flap folding arms 146 and 161 maintainthe folded front and back aps in a common lateral plane during forwardtransport of the carton which effects the folding down of the sidefiaps.

The top of the column 75 and 175, which support the head 2 for verticalreciprocation, fixedly support at their top ends a reversing electricmotor 1712i, as is indicated in FIG. 1. The drive of reversing motor 174is suitably geared to a pair of top drive sprockets 177 and 277 carriedby the top ends of the columns 75 and 175. Drive chain 178 is lappedabout drive sprocket 177 in the vicinity of the top end of columnchannel 75 and about the bottom idler sprocket 78, shown in FIG. 3 withopposed ends thereof anchored by suitable means at 179 to a slide 182riding up and down in channel 76. In similar fashion, a like chain (notshown) is lapped about the far top sprocket 277 and bottom idlerSprocket 178, and is anchored in like fashion to a similar slide ofreversed form located in channel 176 of column 175. The opposed pair ofslides 182 are suitably tied together to act as a carriage unit. Thecarriage comprising the pair of slides 182 and its companion suitablysupport the lateral frame member or beam 143 for vertical travel downand up therewith. Thus, when the reversing vertical travel motor 174 isdriven in one direction the entire head structure 2 is lowered toposition its iiap folding means above an open top carton at the sensingan-d flap folding station Y, such as carton 134 indicated in FIG. l, andwhen driven in the opposite direction will lift this head structure toits initial elevated position, such as that indicated in full lines inFIG. 1.

Maximum limits of up and down motion of the head structure 2 aredictated by suitable limit means, which may be in the form of switchmeans in electrical circuitry of the reversing motor 17d. Such switchmeans may be of the double-throw type so as alternately to open theenergizing circuits of the reversing motor 174i to limit the down and updrive thereof. Such reversing motor control switch unit 186 is suitablymounted on slide 132. Switch unit 186 is provided with a doubleactionactuating trigger 187 arranged to be abutted in its up and down travelto bottom and top stop collars 190 and 193, fixed upon a verticalcontrol rod 191 supported by bed unit frame ledge 10 and the back edl[lange of column channel 75. The bottom stop collar will limit loweringof the head structure 2, so as to assurevthat no parts thereof will bedriven down to iam against any of the bed unit structure should the downenergizing circuit of the reversing motor 174 accidentally be closed inthe absence of a carton at the sensing and flap folding station, thusbeing provided as a safety measure.

As will be seen from FIG. 1, the ap folding head structure 142 includessuitable carton side iiap folding plows 233 having their initial topends at 234 mounted to the head beam 143 by a bracket block 236 and fromwhich they extend obliqucly down in an advance direction whileconverging toward each other. As is presently known in the art, plows ofsuch shape will gradually turn over and fold down upwardly-extendingcarton flaps when they are moved forward to engagement of their outsidefaces against the inner sides of such plows.

As has been previously indicated each of the carton clamping and guidingmembers or rails 8G and 180 is provided with a carton side engagingmeans carried thereby or supported thereon at its inner side in the areaof the sensing and ap folding station Y to constitute the means ofcontacting a side of a carton, pausing at this station7 by structure ofthese members or rails. Such carton side engaging means are shown at 2&5and 265i? in FIG. 2, with the parts of the latter being mirroredduplicates of those of the former. Thus, the structure of the deviceshown at 295 will here only 4be described in detail. The inward side ofthe clamping and guiding member or rail del, and its inside tiange 31are provided with an elongated notch 204, and alike notch 204% isprovided in the opposed side of the cooperating or companion member orrail 18).

As will e more fully understood from FIGS. 4 to 6 incl., upon the topface of the web of rail 80 is iixedly mounted a U-shaped channel section206 by bolts 207 with its upstanding flanges 203 provided withtransversely aligned holes 269 through which extends a pivot pin or bolt210. A shoe 211 is pivotally mounted upon the pivot pin or bolt 211%.Shoe 211 is in the shape of an inverted channel section having an inwardside flange 212 fitted for vertical motion in the notch or gap 21M andan outward side flange 213 provided with a rearwardly extendingextension 214 having a hole 215 through which the transverse pivot pinor bolt 211i extends. As will oe seen from FIG. 5, the top edge 216 ofthe flange extension 214 is sloped in a forward direction obliquelyupward to the top face of the shoe web 217 for camming upwardly anoncoming chain conveyor transverse flight bar 64, as will be explainedlater. An arm 218 is welded to the underside of the web 217 and isprovided with a like hole 215 aligned with that in the flange extension214 through which the transverse pivot pin or bolt 210 extends forpivotal mount of the shoe 211.

The upstanding lian-ges 203 of the channel section 206 carry atransverse fixed pin 2213 and the inverted` flange 2.1.3 of the shoe 211and the forward end of the arm 213 have provided therein transverselyaligned slots 221 in which the projecting ends of the pin 22() ride asstop means for limiting up and down swing of the shoe 211. Upon theforward end of the channel section 2116 is mounted a helical compressionspring 222 upon which 'the forward end 223 of the pivoted shoe 211 restsso that it is spring biased upwardly.

it will thus be understood that with the pivoted shoes 211 of the cartonside engaging means 2'35 and 265% swung upwardly to their extendedpositions as dictated `by the biasing of their springs 222 the opposedinward side flanges 212 will be brought to secure clamping contactagainst opposite sides of the carton 134 at the sensing and flapfielding static-n Y, there to have maximum lap against the surfaces ofthese carton sides and to assure the provision of the minimum height ofclamping action to abort one and one-half inches (l1/2) found to benecessary to assure secure carton anchorage with properly alignedOrientation of the latter. As the front flap folding operation isperformed at station Y upon the carton 134 held securely clamped thereatfbetween the clamping rails 80 and 180 the chain conveyor is started sothat its top run travels forward to carry up behind the stopped cartonone of the fiight bars 64 and cause it to pick up this carton forcarrying it forward for performance of the fiap folding operation on.the upstanding rear carton flap. Then as the carton is carried fartherforward by forwardly traveling fiight bar 64 the upstanding carton sideflaps are lapped down over the folded front and rear aps to complete theclosure of the carton top after which the closed carton is carried stillfarther forward beneath the tape applying mechanism mounted on beam A.

As will be explained later the clamping action of the clamping membersor rails 80 and 180 is converted to a guide operation by reducing theclamping force to a low biasing pressure so as to permit the closedcarton to be so carried forward from the flap folding station Y withguidance by these opposed rails. During this forward transport of theclosed carton by the transverse flight Ibar 64 the upwardly projectingclamping shoes 211 which have their forward ends intercepting the pathof forward travel of the transverse fiight bars must be lowered topermit free pasage of the latter. The oncoming flight bar 64, indicatedin broken lines in FIG. 5, will ride along the upwardly sloping top edge216 of the shoe Web 217 and over the latter to depress each shoe 211 forpermitting such free passage of the flight bar. In order that theattendant frictional dr-ag between the bottom of each flight bar 64 andthe top structure of each pivoted shoe 211 will not cause such rapidwear as to undesirably limit the life of the shoe structure the flightbar, or at least its bottom section, and the shoe, or at least its topsection, advantageously may be made of steel and surface hardened.Alternately such friction surfaces may be protectively covered by toughfriction reducing Imaterial, such as Tefion or simlar composition.

As has lbeen previously indicated means for stopping each oncomingcarton at the flap folding station Y, for performance thereon of thefront flap folding operation, thereafter to be withdrawn to permit thecarton to be picked up by the chain conveyor and transported forward,may be a reversed transverse fiight ybar of the type and function taughtin our prior application Ser. No. 219,212. However, this function mayIbe performed by movable gate means illustrated at 224 in FIG. 2 andshown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8. This stop gate means may be in theform of a lift gate which in its elevated position intercepts the cartonpath and which may be retracted or lowered out of this path at theproper time.

It is preferred that such movable gate means 224 be in the form of apivoted stop paddle structure 225 having a journal 226 through which atransverse pivot pin 116 extends. Movable gate means 224 is supported bymeans of a pair of longitudinal plates 1v1-'7 supported on transverserods 65 and 83 of the machine frame, and these plates are tied togetherby a tie bolt structure 118 (see FIGS. 2, 7 and 8). Plates 117 supportthe transverse pivot pin 116. For the purpose of swinging this paddlestructure 225 rearwardly up to intercept the carton path 4and swingingit forwardly down to a retracted position a pneumatic motor is providedwhich includes a cylinder 227 suitably supported at its back end 228,such as by ears 119 which pivotally receive therethrough tie bolt 118for swinging motion of this cylinder, and the latter carries areciprocating piston head 229 (see FIGS. 9 to 13 incl.). The pistonstructure of this pneumatic motor includes with the piston head 229 apiston rod 230 extending from out of the other end 231 of the cylinder-227 for driving connection with the pivoted stop paddle structure 225,such as by means of connector knuckle 232. Thus, when the piston rod 230is thrust forward, i.e., back toward the entrance end of the machine, itwill swing the pivoted paddle structure 225 counterclockwise to lift itup into the carton travel path to constitute a stop for each carton asthe latter is moved up by the conveyor means into the flap foldingstation Y, as is indicated in FIG. 2. This stop paddle structure 225will be retracted out of the carton travel path by clockwise swingforward upon retraction of the piston rod 230. Such reciprocative actionof the piston rod 230 with attendant elevation and retraction of thestop gate paddle structure 225 will be explained more fully inconnection with FIGS. 9 to 14 incl.

In FIGS. 9 to 11 incl. are shown diagrammatically pneumatic circuitryfor association with and control of the clamping rail driving motor 87including a source of pressurized gaseous medium or air and a pair ofsolenoid valves. It is therein proposed also to associate with suchpneumatic circuitry the pneumatic means for controlling and manipulatingthe movable gate means 224 in the form of the pivoted stop paddlestructure 225. IAs will be seen from FIGS. 9 to 1l incl. the pneumaticmotor 87 includes a double-ended cylinder 301 in which isreciprocatively mounted piston head 88 provided with a through pistonrod 89 fixed thereto. One end 302 of the cylinder 30.1 has projectingtherethrough leading section 303 of the double-ended piston rod S9 toWhich the initial section of the traverse chain 99 is connected formoving or driving the spread-apart clamping and guiding rails and 180from their initial positions of FIG, 2 inward toward each other toclamping of an intervening carton at the station Y upon inward motion ofthis piston section. The other end 30'4 of pneumatic motor cylinder 301has projecting therethrough the other end section 305 of the doubleendedpiston for connection to the traverse chain section 499 which, uponoutward travel, cooperates in such in- Ward drive or approach of theseclamping rails 80 and 180. In FIG. 9 the initial position of the pistonhead 88, as would be occupied under the FIG. 2 conditions, is indicatedin dotted lines at 188, and it is shown traveling to the left foreffecting the drive of the clamping rails 80 and inward toward eachother to opposite sides of a carton stopped at the flap folding stationY.

The pneumatic circuitry diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11incl. is shown in FIG. 9 as including a pair of solenoid valves 194 and195. Since the main pressurized air supply, indicated at 306, isconnected directly to one orifice of the solenoid valve 195 and thencethrough the next solenoid valve 194 to the pneumatic motor cylinder 301,solenoid valve 195 will be here identified as a first such valve, andsolenoid valve 194 will here be considered as a second such valve. Thesolenoid valves 195 and 194 are modified forms of four-way valves. Thefirst solenoid valve 195 has two orifices on the outlet side thereof,i.e., 1v1 and IIvl, indicated respectively at 307 and 308. This firstsolenoid valve 195 also has three orifices on the inlet side thereof,i.e., IIIvl, IVvl, and Vvl, indicated respectively at 309, 310 and 311.

Similarly, the second solenoid valve 194 has two orifices Iv2 and IIv2on its outlet side respectively indicated at 312 and 313. The secondsolenoid valve 194 also has on its inlet side three orifices IlIv2, IVv2and Vv2 respectively indicated at 314, 315 and 316.

The third and fifth orifices of solenoid valve 195, at 309 and 311,alternately serve as vents to atmosphere, and the fifth orifice at 316of the second solenoid valve 194 periodically serves as a similar vent.v

The supply of pressurized air 306 is connected by a conduit 317 througha regulator 318 to the fourth orifice of solenoid valve 195 at 310, andits second orifice at 308 *A is connected by a conduit 319 to the fourthorifice 315 of the second solenoid valve 194. The supply of pressurizedair 306 is also connnected by a conduit 320 through a regulator 321 tothe third orifice 314 of the second solenoid valve 194. The first andsecond orifices at 312 and 313 of the second solenoid valve 194 arerespectively connected by conduits 322 and 323 to first and second ductsor passages at I and I'I at 324 and 325 which communicate with thechamber of the pneumatic motor cylinder 301 at its respective ends '302and 304. The regulator 31S is set 15 to provide a relatively highpressure of the gaseous medium or pressurized air, eg., forty-fivepounds per square inch (45 lbs/sq. in.), and that at 321 is set toprovide a relatively low pressure of the gaseous medium or pressurizedair, eg., five pounds per square inch lhs/sq. in).

It may be found desirable to apply greater gaseous pressure to the stopgate operating cylinder 227 than that which is applied to the raildriving cylinder 301 as the relatively high pressure is fed to thelatter. This may become desirable in connection with the handling ofrelatively heavily loaded cartons which entails application ofappreciable positive pressure t0 the stop gate operator 229 to assurethat the stop gate 225 will effect the required positive stoppage ofsuch cartons at the ap folding station Y, while limiting the maximumpressure feed to the rail driving cylinder 301. This may be accomplishedin a simple manner by moving the pressure regulator 318 out of theconduit 319 to a point intervening orifice 315 of the second solenoidvalve 194 and the interconnection between conduit 319 and the conduit332 which deliver the relatively high pressure to the stop gateoperating cylinder 227, such as to the alternate point indicated at 318ain FIG. 9. As a consequence, the pressure of the source 306 may beraised to that determined to be sufficient to bias the carton stop gate225 to its up position under all conditions of maximum load demand whileassuring that the maximum pressure supplied to the rail driving cylinder301 through the solenoid valve 194 will be limited to a lower value,such as forty-five pounds per square inch (45 lbs/sq. in.), as dictatedby the regulator 319, when the later is located at the point 318a.

With the clamping rails 80 and 180, their traverse equipment and thepiston structure of the pneumatic motor `87 in the initial positionsillustrated in FIG. 2, energization of both of the solenoid valves 195and 194 by means hereinafter described in connection with thediagrammatic showing in FIG. 16 of the electrical and pneumaticcircuitries, pneumatic flow passages through these valves illustrated inFIG. 9 are attained. Thus, inlet orifice 310 of the first energizedsolenoid valve 195 is connected by a cross-passage 326 to its orifice308 for feed through conduit 319 to orifice 315 of the second energizedsolenoid valve 194. Orifice 315 of energized solenoid valve 194 isconnected by a cross-passage 327 to its orifice 312, whereby therelatively high pressure air is conducted through conduit 322 to theforward end 302 of the cylinder 301, so as to thrust the piston 88 inthe latter back from its position at 18S toward its terminal position288, both such positions being indicated in dotted lines. This actionwill cause the traverse chain 99-499 to drive the clamping rails S0 and180 inward from their initial widely spread-apart positions toward eachother with their clamping shoes 211 approaching to abutment of oppositesides of the carton 134 temporarily held stopped at the liap foldingstation Y by lift or stop gate 225. During such feed of the relativelyhigh pressure air to the forward end 302 of the chamber of the pneumaticmotor cylinder 301 air in the latter on the opposite side or behind thepiston head `88 will be bled out through conduit 323 to orifice 313 ofthe second energized solneoid valve 194 for venting through orifice 316thereof by a cross-passage 328.

After the front flap on the leading end on the carton 134, while thelatter is clamped at the station Y, is folded back and downward upon thetop of this carton the chain conveyor is started up to carry `forwardone of its transverse fiight bars 64-1 and 64-2, so that the latter isbrought up behind this carton to pick it up and transport it forwardbetween the opposed rails 80 and 130 in their inward position which nowserves as guides. For this purpose, the clamping pressure must berelieved to an appreciable degree so as to permit such slide of thecarton between these now lightly elastically biased rails 80 and 130 intheir inward positions. This is accomplished by deenergizing both of thesolenoid valves 195 and 194 to manipulate them for establishing the flowpassages therethrough illustrated in FIG. 10. Now the relatively highpressure or gaseous medium delivered through conduit 317 is cut off atthe first de-energized solenoid valve 195 from communication to thepneumatic motor cylinder 301. However, the relatively low pressuregaseous medium is delivered through conduit 320 to orifice 314 of thesecond de-energized solenoid valve 194 for feed through itscross-passage 329 to orifice 312 for delivery by conduit 322 to theforward end 302 of the chamber of the cylinder 301. At the same time theair in the other end 304 of the cylinder 301 located on the oppositeside of piston head 88 is continued to be vented through conduit 323 andnow cross-passage 33t) established between orifices 313 and 315 ofde-energized solenoid valve 194, thence via conduit 319 and finally fromorifice 308 to vent orifice 311 by way of cross-passage 331 ofde-energized solenoid Valve 195. As a result, the rails and 180 areelastically biased to opposite sides of the carton 134 under relativelylight pressure, such as five pounds per square inch (5 lbs/sq. in.) topermit the carton to slide forward therebetween.

As will be best understood from the following description of operationin connection with the showing in FIG. 16 a very short period mayintervene the attainment of the conditions depicted in FIGS. `9 and 10.During this period the solenoid valve may be de-energized shortly beforesolenoid valve 194 is cle-energized so that valve 195 is conditioned asshown in FIG. 10 while valve 194 remains energized as is indicated inFIG. 9. In this event solenoid valve 195 will feed the relatively highpressure air across from orifice 310 to orifice 307 for conduction byconduit 333 to the front end 231 of cylinder 227, thereby effectingretraction of stop gate 225. This is accompanied by venting the back end228 of cylinder 227 through conduit 332, orifice 308, passage 331 andout vent orifice 311. As this occurs both supplies of pressurized airare cut off from communication with the clamping rail traverse cylinder301, the relatively high at orifice 310 and the relatively low atorifice 314. The inwardly positioned clamping rails 80 and 180 remainabutted against the opposite sides of the carton at the flap foldingstation for the short time until the condition of FIG. 10 is attained toapply relatively low biasing pressure to these rails.

When the succeeding carton is admitted into the entrance end of themachine and fed forward toward the iiap folding station Y the firstsolenoid valve 195 again becomes energized while the second solenoidvalve 194 remains de-energized. The condition of the pneumatic circuitryassociated with the pneumatic motor 87 at such time is illustrated inFIG. 11. It will there be seen that now the relatively high pressuregaseous medium is again fed through conduit 317, eg., at forty-livepounds per square inch (45 lbs/sq. in.), to the energized first solenoidvalve 195, through its cross-passage 326 to conduit 319, and thencethrough cross-passage 330 through the deenergized second solenoid valve194 to conduit 323, to be supplied through the back end 3014 ofpneumatic motor cylinder 301 behind the piston head l88 for urging thelatter forward, back to its initial position 188. At the same timerelatively low pressure gaseous medium, eg., at five pounds per squareinch (5 lbs/sq. in.), is supplied through conduit 320 and by way ofcross-passage 329 through de-energized second solenoid valve v194 andconduit 322 to the forward end 302i of the pneumatic motor cylinder 301,ahead of the piston S3 therein. The differential in pressures onopposite sides of the piston 8S, eg., forty pounds per square inch (40lbs/sq. in.), is thus applied behind the piston head 88 to thrust itforward toward its initial position 138, so as to return the railtraversing equipment back to its initial positions of FIG. 2. Thisaction retracts the rails 80 and 180 away from each other, so as tospread them apart for receiving therebetween 17 the next succeedingcarton as it enters the entrance end of the machine.

The action described above in connection with FIGS. 9, and 11 is thenrepeated with this next carton as it is fed forward by continuallytraveling endless conveyor belt 27 to the flap folding station Y. As hasbeen previously indicated, stop mechanism is required at the forward endof the flap `folding station Y, intercepting the path of forward travelof this succeeding oncoming carton, so as to stop it in proper positionfor lowering of the elevating head 2 down thereover to effect theinitial ap folding operation, i.e., the folding back and down upon thetop end of the carton its upstanding leading flap. As is pointed outabove the stop mechanism to intercept this oncoming carton and cause itto pause at the flap folding station Y may be in the form of a retractedgate, such as that shown at 225 in FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8 lor in FIGS. 9,10 and 11, which is to be lifted into a carton path interceptingposition for abutment thereagainst of the leading end of the succeedingcarton. As will be seen from the diagrammatic showing of the pneumaticcircuitry in FIGS. 9 and 1l the pneumatic cylinder 227 and its pistoustructure 229, 230 may perform this gate lifting operation by having theback end 228 of the chamber in this cylinder connected by a conduit 332to the interconnecting conduit 319, to supply thereto, behind pistonhead 229 the relatively high pressure gaseous medium, e.g., atforty-live pounds per square inch (45 lbs/sq. in.), to thrust thispiston head forward causing piston rod 230 to raise the stop gate 225 toits full line position shown therein. This action occurs when first thesolenoid valve 195 is energized, and may happen when the clamping rails80 and 180 are in their relative inward clamping positions and whilesolenoid valve 194 is de-energized, as depicted in FIG. 1l, so thatthese clamping rails will be driven away from each other to theirspread-apart positions of FIG. 2, to be maintained in this up cartonintercepting position as solenoid valve 194 is then energized, asindicated in FIG. 9, to drive these spread-apart rails inward towardtheir carton clamping positions. In starting up operation of theinactive machine the stop gate 225 is raised immediately when thecircuitry is rst supplied with power causing solenoid valve 195 to beimmediately energized, as will be explained in the description of FIG.16. Thus the stop gate 225 is raised to its intercepting position tostop the next oncoming carton at the ap folding station Y and then theclamping rails 80 and 180 are brought snugly against opposite sides ofthe stopped carton at the flap folding station, with their clampingshoes 211 abutted to opposite sides of the carton under relatively highclamping pressure, e.g., forty-tive pounds per square inch (45 1bs./ sq.in.). With the application of the relatively high pressure gaseousmedium behind the piston head 22,9 the gaseous medium or air in the headend 231 of the chamber of the cylinder 227 was vented by a conduit 333connected to orifice 307 of the lirst energized solenoid valve 195 forventing through cross-passage 334 of the latter and its vent orifice309.

As will be seen from FIG'. 10 when both solenoid valves 195 and 194 arethen de-energized, the relatively high pressure gaseous medium issupplied through orice 3-10 and cross-passage 335 of the rstde-energized solenoid valve 195 to be fed through conduit 333 to thehead end 231 of the chamber of stop gate cylinder 227. This causes therelatively high pressure to be applied to the opposite side or in frontof the piston head 229 to cause it to retract piston rod 230 and effectattendant retraction or lowering of the stop gate 225. This gateretraction releases the carton for further forward transport at the timethe inwardly located clamping rails 80 and 180 become biased withrelatively low pressure gaseous medium to convert them to guiding rails.By reference to FIG. 11 it will be seen that when the first solenoidvalve 195 again becomes energized with maintenance of thede-energization of the second solenoid valve 194 retraction of theguiding rails and '180 is begun and again relatively high pressuregaseous medium is fed to behind piston head 229 in the cylinder 227 tothrust it toward its maximum position of advance 229-1 for raising thegate 225 to its carton stopping position 225-1.

This cycle of operation of lifting and retracting the carton stoppinggate 225 is cyclically performed simultaneously with the recyclingoperations of the inward drive and outward retraction of the rails 80and 180, as are illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11.

It is to be understood that the alternate lifting and retraction of thestop gate 225 need not depend upon alternate pneumatic drive of itsoperating mechanism, such as the piston 229 of cylinder motor 227. Aswill be seen from FIGS. 12 and 13 the interconnecting conduit 332, whichin FIGS. 9, 10 and l1 connects the back end of the chamber of cylinder227 to the interconnecting conduit 319 for supply of relatively highpressure gaseous medium thereto periodically, may be omitted. In suchcase the stop gate mechanism 2240 may include a helical compressionspring 336 mounted within the cylinder 2270 behind the piston head 229,with the back end 2280 of this cylinder vented, such as is indicated at337. Such compression spring 336 thus constitutes the motor whichthrusts the piston head 229 forward to cause piston rod 230 to raise thestop gate 225 to its carton path intercepting position, as is indicatedin FIG. 12. This expansion of the motor spring 336 is permitted when thefront end 231 of the cylinder 2270 is connected by means of conduit 333to the vent orifice 309 by way of cross-passage 334 of the rst energizedsolenoid valve 195, with the cylinder chamber behind the piston head 229being permitted to aspirate air through vent 337. Thus this liftingforce is applied to the stop gate 225 to lift it up to its carton pathintercepting position takes place at all times that retracting pressureis not applied to the front end 231 of cylinder 2270, including the timewhen the opposed rails 80 and 180 are driven to more progressivelyinward toward opposite sides of an oncoming carton, so as to stop thelatter at the flap folding station Y, there ultimately to be securelyclamped by these rails and their clamping shoes 211.

As will be seen from FIG. 13 when both of the solenoid valves and 194are de-energized to apply relatively low pressure gaseous medium to theopposite side of the piston head 88 in the cylinder 301 of rail drivingpneumatic motor 87 for conversion of these rails to carton guiding meansthe relatively high gaseous medium, eg., at forty-live pounds per squareinch (45 lbs/sq. in.), is supplied from conduit 317 throughcross-passage 325 of the first deenergized solenoid valve 195 and by wayof conduit 333 to the front end of 231 of the cylinder 2270 so as toretract the piston head 229 and its piston rod 230 for withdrawing thestop gate 225 from the `path of the carton to allow it to be transportedforward from the flap folding station Y. This action compresses themotor spring 336 with vent of air through the vent 337. This conditionof FIG. 13 is maintained until the first solenoid valve 195 is againenergized, such as while the de-energization of the second solenoidvalve 194 is maintained for effecting the retraction of the guidingrails 80 and 180 from each other to permit reception of the nextoncoming carton, as in FIG. 11, at which time feed of relatively highpressure gaseous medium to the front end 231 of cylinder 2270 is cut ofito permit the spring 336 again to raise the stop gate 225.

As will be seen in FIGS. 14 and l5 lugs 2664 and 26d-2 carried by thefar conveyor chain 159 are of appreciable length, being about thirtyinches (30") long in an operative embodiment of the machine depicted byway of example in the drawings. As was previously indicated these lugs265-1 and 266-2 are provided for successively engaging beneath roller237 on the tip of trigger 236 which manipulates a second limit switch235, the latter being biased to one condition of circuit control andwhen its trigger is tripped upwardly by either of such lugs carriedtherebeneath to manipulate it to another condition of circuit control.These lugs 25e-1 and 26e-2 are of the appreciable length shown so thatthe second condition of circuit control eiected by the tripping may bemaintained for a proper time release. The relative positions of the pairlimit switch tripping lugs 66-1 and 66-2 with respect to tripping lugs2de-1 and 26S-2 are shown therein by the bracketing of the positions ofthe former (not viewable in FlGS. 14 and l5) for an understanding of therelative timing of the operations of the limit switches 135 and 23S,respectively controlled by the switch tripping lugs 65--1 and 656-2 onthe conveyor chain 59 and the switch tripping lugs 26e-1 and 26e-2carried by the conveyor chain 15%. The operations illustrated in FIGS.14 and 15 and the actions dictated thereby are here explained inconnection with the operational details described with refeernce to thecircuitry shown in FlG. 16.

As is illustrated in FlG. 16 the electrical circuitry of the machine,shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, includes AC powersupply lines L1, L2 and L3, to which are connected in parallel circuitsto supply Such power to main motor 51 and AC reversing starter switches253 and 254 of the vertical motion motor 17d. Starter switches 252 areclosed by energization of a relay coil 2526. rihe Up starter switches253, which dictate drive ot motor 17K@ in one direction for the litt cithe head 2, are closed by energization of a relay coil 253-9, and theDown starter switches at 254, which dictate reversed drive of this motorfor lowering the head, are closed by energization of relay coil 25419. Abrake coil 255 is associated with motor 174 to hold it in stoppedposition. A rectier circuit 25e for converting AC power to DC energysupplies the latter to magnetic brake 67-1 and magnetic clutch 67-2through parallel circuits between conductors 342 and 3/13 thereof, andthese parallel circuits are alternately closed. rlhe circuit of themagnetic brake 67-1 includes a biased-closed switch 256-1 and thecircuit of the magnetic clutch 67-2 includes a biased-open switch 25d-2,and these switches are tied together for simultaneous alternate openingand closing by a relay coil 2560. Since relay coil 25nd is initiallytie-energized, the brake circuit switch 25e-1 remains closed with thebrake applied to the drive of the chain conveyor 59-159. ln theillustrated machine it is desirable to connect the clutch switch 25e-2to conductor 342 alternately through a voltage reducer and a fullvoltage line 345 respectively by means of a normally closed switch 341-2and a normally open switch 341-3 tied together for simultaneousmanipulation.

The rectiiier circuit 256 also supplies DC power to a photocell system1386, which includes the photocell 13d in the vicinity of the entranceselector gate 12 (See FIG. l) and a light source 139 arranged on theopposite side of the machine for directing a photocell exciting beamupon lthis photocell (see FIGS. 14 and l5), and a photocell system 1436,which includes the photocell 14d at the sensing and ap folding station Y(see FIG. l) and its exciting light source 141 on the opposite side ofthe machine (see FIGS. 14 and l5). The energizing circuit for thephotocell systems 13% and 14d@ includes a normally open switch 262-1which is to be closed by energization of a relay coil 252i).

A normally open switch 259, which is to be closed manually to eiectinitial operation of the machine, is connected in series with the relaycoil 2620 in one of a plurality of parallel circuits connected toneutral line N of the power supply circuit for bridging across thelatter. Another one of these parallel circuits includes a normally openStart push button switch 253 connected in series with the relay coil25211 which controls the main motor starter switches 252. The Start pushbutton switch 263 is shunted by a holding circuit which includes amagnetic overload switch 265 and a normally open switch 252-11controlled by relay coil 252i?, so that when the latter is energizedthis holding circuit will continue to supply energy to the branchcircuits leading from this Start push button switch. There is connectedto the parallel circuit which includes in series the Start push buttonswitch 263 and the relay coil 2520, at a point therebetween, a branchcircuit which includes in series a normally closed switch 262-2, whichis under the control of relay coil 2621?, and the relay coil 2569. Thisnormally losed switch 2132-2 is shunted by a holding circuit whichincludes in series a normally open switch 262-3, also uuder the controlof relay coil 262e and a held open switch 13S-1 which is biased towardclosure. To the same coniu mon point of connection between the Startpush button switch 263 and the relay coil 2521i is connected anotherbranch circuit which includes a held open head switch 1019-1 that isbiased toward closure, a conductor 161 which leads to a normally openswitch 341-1 that is tied to normally closed switch 341-2 and normallyopen switch 341-3 for simultaneous manipulation, a held closed switch13S-2 which is biased toward open position, and a conductor 102connected to the branch line which includes in series the normallyclosed switch 252-2 and the relay coil 25st) at a point intermediatethese latter switch and relay coils. A relay coil 341@ is connectedbetween conductor 101 and the neutral line N to be in parallel with thenormally open switch 341-1, held closed switch 13S-2 and relay coil25nd. Relay coil 341@ when cle-energized under the conditions depictedin FIG. 16 permits switches 341-1 and 3451-3 to remain open and switch341-2 to remain closed, and when energized closes switches fidi-1 and3421-3 and opens switch 3431-2.

Held open switch 13S-1, which is biased toward closure, and switch13S-2, which is held closed and biased toward open condition, are tiedtogether for simultaneous manipulation. These two switches are embodiedin the limit switch 135 that is under the control of the trigger 136which is periodically tripped successively by the lugs 66-1 and 6%-2carried by the conveyor chain 59 (see FIG. 1). For example, when the lug535-1 is beneath the trigger 136 of limit switch 13S to trip it up andhold it in such tripped position switch 135-1 is open and switch 13S-2is closed, as is indicated in FG. 16, and they are held in theserespective conditions by the maintenance of this tripping by tlis luglocated beneath the roller 137 of the tripping trigger 136, as in FIG.1.

A branch circuit is connected to the common point between the Start pushbutton switch 263 and the relay coil 252@ through normally open switch262-3 (by connection to the mentioned shunt circuit between the latterand the held open switch 13S-1) with this branch circuit including inseries a biased closed switch 23S-1 of limit switch 135, normally openphotocell switch 14d-1, a held closed head switch 149-2 which is biasedtoward open position, a biased closed travel limit switch 18e-1 and therelay coil 254i?, thence to the neutral line N. At a point intermediatethe normally open photocell switch 149-1 and the held closed head switch149-2 and the neutral line N is connected a branch circuit including theenergizing winding of solenoid valve 19d. Beyond the biased closed limitswitch 23S-1 is provided a second branch circuit for simultaneouscontrol with the immediately precedingly described branch circuit, thissecond branch circuit including in series a conductor 26S connected tothis intermediate point ahead of photocell switch 149-1, second normallyclosed photocell switch 14d-2, a normally closed manual switch 272,another biased closed travel limit switch 18d-2 and the relay coil253i), thence to connection with the neutral line N. To the commonconnection between photocell switches 1656- 1 and 149-2, intermediatethe biased closed limit switch 23S-1 and the normally open photocellswitch 1451-1 is connected another branch conductor 267 which includes anormally closed manual switch 274, another held closed head switch 149-4which is biased toward open position, and the winding of solenoid valve19S, thence to the neutral line N. The normally open photocell switch140-1 and the normally closed photocell switch 140-2 are tied togetherfor simultaneous manipulation when the photocell system 1400 isenergized by a light beam emanating from light source 141 falling uponphotocell 140 (in the absence of an intervening carton at the ilapfolding station Y). Thus, when the photocell system 1400 becomesde-energized (by interception of this light beam emanating from lightsource 141 to prevent it from impinging upon photocell 140 as a resultof intervention by a carton) normally open photocell switch 140-1 isclosed and its companion switch 140-2 is opened.

A pair of normally open manual switches 273 and 275 are respectivelyconnected in parallel circuit conductors 276 and 277 with normally openswitch 273 leading to connection with biased closed travel limit switch186-2. The normally open manual switch 275 is connected by a conductor103 to a point intermediate the held closed head switch 149-4 and thewinding of solenoid valve 195. The bank 271 of manually andsimultaneously operable switches, consisting of normally closed switches272 and 274, and normally open switches 273 and 275, are provided so asto permit quick and ready freeing by a single manual act of a damagedcarton in the machine. Thus no further consideration need given here tothis bank 271 of manual switches with respect to the operation of themachine in successively closing a plurality of random sized cartons.

Parallel circuit 27S includes in series normally closed switch 262-4 andthe winding of selector` entrance gate solenoid valve 197, this normallyclosed switch being opened enegization of relay coil 2620 so that theselector gate 12 is initially in its up, carton-barrin g position shownin FIG. l. Parallel circuit 269 has connected in Series therein anormally open switch 262-5, a second biased closed limit switch 23S-2, anormally open photocell switch 13S-1 and a relay coil 2660, thence tothe neutral line N. A cross-connection between parallel circuits 269 and278 is provided through a normally closed switch 266-1 between a pointintervening biased closed switch 23S-2 and normally open photocellswitch 13S-1, and a point intervening normally closed switch 262-4 andentrance gate solenoid valve 197. Thus, when switch 262- is closed byenergization of relay coil 2620 upon initial closure of the manualswitch 259 with resulting opening of switch 262-4 (also associated withthis now energized relay coil) the entrance gate solenoid valve 197 willbe energized for a short period to permit entrance of an open carton atthe position Z in FIG. 1 to the machine for closing, as will beexplained more fully later in connection with the description of atypical operation of the machine. The entrance of such carton to themachine will cause it to intercept the beam of light impinging upon thephotocell 138 at the entrance gate so as to stop excitation thereof andeffect closure of the photocell switch 138-1. Thus the relay coil 2660becomes energized to open its normally closed switch 2-66-1 fordeenergizing entrance gate solenoid valve 197 and closing its normallyopen switch 266-2 which is shunted around photocell switch 133-1 toprovide a holding circuit for this relay coil. This circuitry also hasassociated therewith another energizing circuit for the relay coil 2560.This other energizing circuit for relay 2560 consists of a conductor 104having one end connected between the relay coil 2660 on the one hand andthe switches 266-2 and 13S-1 on the other hand. The other end ofconductor 104 is connected between the switches 341-1 of relay coil 3410and the conveyor operated limit switch 135-2. Conductor 104 has thereina second photoswitch 13S-2 which is normally closed to be opened whenthe photocell 138 is de-excited.

Another parallel circuit which provides for alternate retractive andhap-folding striking action of the back ap kicker 161 is provided andincludes in series biased closed sensing switch 128, a held open headswitch 149-3 22 which is biased toward closed position and solenoidvalve 193 which operates the back flap kicker.'

It will thus be seen that relay coil 2620 controls tive switches, viz.,normally open switches 262-1, 262-3, and 262-5 and normally closedswitches 262-2 and 262-4. It will also be seen that the relay coil 2520controls four normally open switches, viz., the three in the powersupply lines connected to the main motor 51 and holding circuit switch252-4 shunted around the Start push button 263. Relay coil 2560manipulates simultaneously the normally closed brake circuit switch256-1 and the normally open clutch circuit switch 256-2. The relay coil3410 simultaneously manipulates its normally open switches 341-1 and341-3 and its normally closed switch 341-2. The head switch 149, whichis carried by the elevatin g head 2 and is manipulated by the front flapfolder arm 146, has embodied therein four switches, viz., held openswitches 149-1 and 149-3 which are biased toward closed positions andheld closed switches 149-2 and 149-4 which are biased toward openpositions. Entrance gate photocell 138 simultaneously controls normallyopen photocell switch 13S-1 and normally closed photocell switch 13S-2.Flap folding station photocell 140 simultaneously controls normally openphotocell switch 140-1 and normally closed photocell switch 140-2. Heldopen limit switch 13S-1 which is biased toward closed position and heldclosed limit switch 13S-2 which is biased toward open position are tiedtogether for simultaneous operation by tripping of the limit switch 135upon travel therepast of tripping lugs 66-1 and l66-2 carried byconveyor chain 59. Biased closed limit switches 23S-1 and 23S-2 are tiedtogether and embodied in limit switch 235 which is operated periodicallyby travel therepast of the tripping lugs 266-1 and 266-2 carried by theother conveyor chain 159. The biased closed switches 186-1 and 186-2 inthe head lowering and elevating circuits are embodied in the switch 156carried by the elevating head 2 with switch 186-1 being opened uponcontact of the switch trigger 187 with the bottom trip collar 190 tolimit downward movement of this head and with switch 186-2 being openedupon trip of this trigger by top collar 193 upon raising of the head(see FIG. 1).

Operation on random size cartons which may include some of 3 to 41/2"depth The machine illustrated by way of example in the drawings, whenequipped with electrical and pneumatic systems diagrammatically depictedin FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 16, will operate as follows when a series ofcartons of random size are fed to the entrance end thereof by the supplyconveyor 9. Such random size cartons may include some relatively smallones which have shallow depths in the range of about three to four andone-half inches (3-41/2), or may consist of all such small cartons.Reference should be made to the wiring diagram of FIG. 16. The power isturned on to feed current to main supply lines L1, L2 and L3, the switch259 is closed manually to energize relay coil 2620l and the Start7 pushbutton switch 263 is closed to energize relay coil 2520. Resultingenergization of relay coil 2620 closes its normally open switches 262-1,262-3 and 262-5 and opens its normally closed switches 262-2 and 262-4.The energization of relay coil 2520 closes starter switches 252 toeffect continued drive of the main motor 51 (FIGS. 1 and 3) and holdingswitch 252-4 shunted around push button switch 263 to continue theenergization of this relay coil. With the supply of power to the FIG. 16circuitry the rectifier circuit 256 was also energized. The drive ofmain motor 51 effects constant drive of initial belt section 27 of theconveyor means.

The second section of the conveyor means, which is preferably in theform of a chain conveyor provided with a pair of uniformly spacedtransverse flight bars 64-1 and 64-2, is held in stop position by virtueof the fact that tripping lug 66-1 is located beneath the trigger4 136

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC CARTON CLOSING MACHINE FOR FOLDING DOWN AND INWARDTHE UPWARDLY-EXTENDING FRONT AND REAR FLAPS OF A SERIES OF SUCCESSIVEOPEN-TOP CARTONS TO CLOSED LATERAL POSITIONS, INCLUDING THOSE OFRELATIVELY SHALLOW DEPTHS, THE COMBINATION WITH (A) LATERAL CONVEYORMEANS HAVING AN ENTRANCE END AND A DISCHARGE END AND DEFINING A PATH OFFORWARD CARTON TRAVEL ALONG WHICH SAID CONVEYOR MEANS TRANSPORTS EACHCARTON, (B) A CARTON SENSING AND FLAP FOLDING STATION LOCATED AT A POINTALONG SAID PATH, (C) A MOVABLE FRONT AND REAR FLAP FOLDING SUB-ASSEMBLYMOUNTED FOR MOTION ALONG A PATH AT AN ANGLE TO SAID CARTON TRAVEL PATHTOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE OPEN TOP OF A CARTON AT SAID STATION, (D)CARTON SENSING MEANS LOCATED ALONG SAID CARTON TRAVEL PATH RESPONSIVE TOTHE PRESENCE OF AN OPENTOP CARTON AT SAID STATION TO DICTATE ADVANCE OFSAID FLAP FOLDING MEANS TOWARD THE UNFOLDED AND UPWARDLY-EXTENDING FLAPSTHEREOF AND TO FOLD THE FRONT FLAP BACK AND INWARD TO CLOSING POSITION,(E) CARTON HEIGHT CONTROL MEANS AT SAID STATION RESPONSIVE TO THE TOP OFSAID CARTON TO STOP THE ADVANCE OF SAID FLAP FOLDING SUB-ASSEMBLY UPONINWARD FOLDING OF THE FRONT FLAP DOWN UPON THE CARTON TOP, (F) MOVABLEREAR FLAP FOLDING MEANS ALSO CARRIED BY SAID FLAP FOLDING SUB-ASSEMBLYTO FOLD THE REAR FLAP FORWARD AND INWARD TO CLOSING POSITION, (G) MEANSTO CAUSE EACH OPEN-TOP CARTON TO PAUSE AT SAID STATION FOR PERMITTINGADVANCE OF SAID FLAP FOLDING SUB-ASSEMBLY TO THE TOP OF SAID PAUSINGCARTON AND AFTER PERFORMANCE OF A FLAP-FOLDING OPERATION THEREON TORELEASE SAID PAUSING CARTON FROM SAID STATION FOR TRANSPORT BY SAIDCONVEYOR MEANS TO THE DISCHARGE END, (H) A PAIR OF OPPOSED,LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING, CARTON CLAMPING AND GUIDING MEMBERS FLANKINGOPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID STATION WITH AT LEAST ONE MOVABLE TRANSVERSELYRELATIVE TO THE OTHER FOR RELATIVE APPROACH TEMPORARILY TO CLAMPTHEREBETWEEN A CARTON PAUSING AT SAID STATION AND FOR RELATIVERETRACTION TO PERMIT RECEPTION THEREBETWEEN OF A SUCCEEDING CARTON, AND